Biden Back in U.S. After Visiting Israel, Reaching Gaza Aid Deal

President Joe Biden landed in Washington early Thursday following a visit to Israel where he reaffirmed his support for the U.S. ally and spoke to leaders about delivering aid to the Gaza Strip. Biden secured agreements during the trip from Israel and Egypt to allow 20 truckloads of humanitarian aid through the southern Rafah crossing into Gaza, although it’s unclear when it will be delivered. He spent several hours in Israel, but aid talks in Jordan with regional leaders were canceled following the Gaza hospital explosion.

“Israel has been badly victimized, but the truth is they have an opportunity to relieve suffering of people who have nowhere to go … it’s what they should do,” Biden told reporters aboard Air Force One as he was traveling back to Washington, D.C. Biden said his argument about humanitarian assistance for Gaza was, “If you have an opportunity to alleviate the pain, you should do it.”

Around one million people are displaced within Gaza, the U.N. said Wednesday, roughly half of the enclave’s population. It said that 3,478 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Some 1,400 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack, and at least 200 hostages were taken to Gaza.